County to receive $33,628 in stimulus funds

Lebanon County will receive $33,628 of the $3.7 million in federal economic-stimulus funds allocated by the Department of Homeland Security for the state Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

“At a time when people are faced with economic hardships due to the loss of a job, we are fortunate to be receiving additional funds to help our fellow citizens,” county Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz said.

The EFSP funds can be used for a broad range of services, including mass shelter, mass feeding, food distribution through food pantries and food banks, one-month assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments to prevent evictions, and transition assistance from shelters to stable living conditions. The funding is contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“This funding will ensure that Pennsylvania has the resources to assist communities impacted by unemployment and poverty and to help get families back on their feet,” Sen. Arlen Specter said in a news release.

So far, more than $32 million in stimulus money has been earmarked for Lebanon County.

The federal funding for the EFSPs is allocated to cities and counties based on measures of unemployment and poverty.

Additionally, the state will receive $724,112 to serve areas in need that do not qualify based on this formula through the State Set-Aside program.